Time To Give Thanks

Published: Thursday, November 23, 2000

"(These) are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People."

Abraham Lincoln

Thanksgiving Proclamation

THE UNITED STATES was in the midst of "a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity" in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as an annual national holiday. Despite a war that threatened the country's existence, the commander in chief called for "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in Heaven." He spoke of a year "filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthy skies," and noted that "we are prone to forget the source from which they come."

History shows that thanksgiving often grows out of hardships. Difficulties reveal blessings.

On May 23, 1541, the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado paused to give thanks after discovering Palo Duro Canyon. Having left Mexico in search of a mythical city of gold, he and his men had wandered in circles on the Llano Estacado in search of water.

Pilgrims gave thanks

On Aug. 9, 1607, two ships came ashore near the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. Records show that George Popham and his party gave thanks for God's mercy during the voyage.

On Dec. 4, 1619, on the banks of the James River in what is now Virginia, Captain John Woodleaf proclaimed a "day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."

What is recognized as America's first Thanksgiving came in 1621 at Plymouth. Having survived a harsh winter, the Pilgrims celebrated the fall harvest with the native Americans who had shown them how to survive in the wilderness.

While traditions have been kept in America for centuries now, the idea of giving thanks is older than the arrival of Europeans in the New World. Ancient Greeks held the festival of Thesmosphoria in gratitude for a good harvest, and Cerelia was a fall festival of thanks celebrated by the Romans. The ancient Chinese celebrated Chung Ch'ui, a harvest festival of thanksgiving. Jewish families have celebrated Sukkoth for more than 3,000 years. The celebration feast remembers the difficult days when the Israelites wandered in the desert in search of the Promised Land.

Be thankful for gracious gifts

People through the ages have paused to give thanks, having become mindful of blessings during difficult times.

The United States has gone through some difficult days recently. As in those days of civil war, the nation is divided and the foundations of democracy have been shaken.

Nevertheless, there is much for which the people of this nation should be thankful, but we too are prone to forget the source from which our blessings come. Like Abraham Lincoln, we as a nation must see the gracious gifts of the Most High God and be thankful today for the mercy this nation has been shown.